Putter club head with an adjustable radial face

ABSTRACT

A putter club head having an adjustable radial face. The club head having a recessed area formed in a front surface for receipt of the adjustable radial face formed by an impact surface insert. The radial impact surface insert has a frontal surface that works in combination with a radial recessed area to cause an immediate golf ball roll upon impact. The radial impact surface insert is releasably secured to the recessed area of the putter club head, allowing ease of substitution. The radial impact surface insert can vary in materials of construction, wherein a golfer can employ the radial impact surface insert to accommodate various golfing conditions while maintaining a single putter club.

PRIORITY CLAIM

In accordance with 37 C.F.R. § 1.76, a claim of priority is included in an Application Data Sheet filed concurrently herewith. Accordingly, the present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/798,184 entitled “PUTTER CLUB HEAD WITH AN ADJUSTABLE RADIAL FACE” filed Jan. 29, 2019. The contents of the above referenced application are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the game of golf; and more particularly, to a putter with an interchangeable impact surface insert having a radial face.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The game of golf is a well-known sport played professionally and recreationally. Stroke play is used in score keeping, wherein an individual with the lowest number of strokes used to advance the ball is declared a winner. A conventional golf course employs eighteen holes, each hole consists of a tee box, a fairway, and a putting green. The object is to move a golf ball from the tee box to the putting green with as few uses of golf clubs as possible. Once on the putting green, the individual must place the golf ball into a hole with as few attempts as possible.

Unique to the game of golf is the fact that a two-inch putt counts for a stroke, just as a 350-yard drive counts for a stroke. While golfers have recognized the necessity of proper putting to complete a successful round of golf, putting is not as physically challenging as a long ball drive. Technically, putting requires proper positioning so as to allow the putter face to be aligned square with the desired path the golf ball is to travel. For this reason, the ability to excel at the game of golf requires accuracy in putting. Unfortunately, putting is where most golfers have the greatest difficulty as they typically practice long ball hitting and leave putting to chance.

The art of putting is considered a skill that can be developed. Part of the skill is understanding the changing effect the environment has upon the movement of the golf ball. For instance, a course rating is a value given to each set of tees for a particular golf course to approximate the number of strokes it would take a good golfer to complete the course. A par or “scratch” golfer would be considered one that has no handicap and is expected to complete a round of golf in accordance with the calculated value.

A course rating is used to predict the difficulty of the course. A course rating of 75 is stiff, but a scratch golfer is expected to post an average score of 75 on that course. The longer the course, the higher the rating; and various obstacles, such as water and sand, drive a rating to be higher. Taking into account the length, obstacles, putting green surface, a rating team evaluates the overall difficulty of the golf course under normal playing conditions and issues the course rating for scratch golfers.

A slope is a number representing the relative difficulty of a course for recreational golfers. A slope is calculated from a bogey rating, which is an evaluation of how many strokes a non-scratch, or bogey, golfer would take to play the course. The calculation that determines the slope is the bogey course rating minus the course rating times 5.381 for men or 4.24 for women.

While course ratings and the use of a slope are known, a golfer would only be able to adjust their swing to accommodate the changing conditions since the game calls for a limit on the number of clubs that can be use. For example, the putting green on a course may change during a tournament, wherein a player may find the greens very slow on the first day the tournament begins, and find the greens extremely fast on the last day of the tournament. The rating and slope may not have changed yet the golfer can predict faster greens if they have not been watered and/or the grass has been freshly cut. As the putter becomes an important aspect of the game, making the putter accommodate the changing environment provides a technological advancement.

A putter club head includes a frontal impact surface, known in the industry as the face of the club head. All known putter club head faces are either vertically flat or angled to create a positive club loft. Impact surfaces may be attached to the face of the putter club head by use of adhesive. However, the impact surface may not work for all environmental conditions or player skill but the removal/replacement of the secured insert is extremely difficult and time consuming. In such instances, the adhesive must be completely removed using either chemical adhesive dissolving material, or the remaining adhesive must be scraped off the putter club head to allow proper seating of a replacement. Even a small amount of adhesive could change the dynamics of the insert, causing unwanted spin or unwanted directional movement during use.

The use of a positive loft allows the golf ball to lift when it is struck. The problem with lifting of the golf ball is that the golfer must predict the effect of the lifting action which can even cause a momentary reverse roll. Further, the golf ball may skip or even bounce across the putting green.

Putters having resilient members or inserts are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 726,885; 1,562,956; 1,939,414; 4,805,922; 5,407,196; 7,396,295; and 7,465,240.

U.S. Pat. No. 10,137,340 discloses a golf putter with an animal bone insert. The putter head includes a striking face formed from a first material, the striking face including a central cavity; and an insert formed from a second material. The insert includes a front face and a back face, the back face fittingly engaged within the central cavity to align the front face with the face geometry surrounding the central cavity, thereby establishing a continuous surface along the striking face.

U.S. Pat. No. 10,029,160 discloses a putter body having a ball striking face member made of a material having hardness characteristic. A cavity is defined in the putter body behind the ball striking face member, and plural openings are defined in the ball striking face member extending rearward with respect to the ball striking face member and into the cavity. A polymeric material at least partially fills the openings and the cavity, wherein the polymeric material has a second hardness characteristic that is softer than the first hardness characteristic.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,901,788 discloses a putter having a face member configured for striking a ball. A weight member is connected to the face member behind the rear surface of the face member, and a resilient member is positioned between the weight member and the face member. The resilient member is connected to the rear surface of the face member to connect the weight member to the face member. Momentum transferred from the weight member to the face member during an off-center impact may reduce energy loss and twisting of the face on impact.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,861,868 discloses an adaptable putter head that comprises a center piece and two wings rotatably attached to the center piece. The center piece and wings include a central face and wing faces, respectively. In an extended position, the central face and wing faces form a continuous surface for striking a ball in competitive play. In a retracted position, the central face provides a striking surface with less surface area and the putter head has a lower moment of inertia for skill training and practice.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,764,209 discloses a golf putter having a putter face comprised of multiple facets with a degree of static loft measured from the plane of the facet to the axis of the shaft. There are at least four facets on the face of the putter. The first facet is proximate to the sole of the face and has a first static loft angle. The second facet is above and abuts the first facet and has a second static loft angle which is greater than the first static loft angle. The third facet, abutting and above the second facet, has a third static loft angle which is greater than the second static loft angle. The fourth facet abuts and is above the third facet, and has a fourth static loft angle which is greater than the third static loft angle.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,022,874 discloses a putter head having an adjustable ball striking face insert contained within the putter body. The insert may have a plurality of sides, each of the sides having different performance characteristics to permit customization of the putter. The adjustable ball striking face insert may be rotatably mounted within the putter head. The insert may be removably mounted within.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,979,667 discloses a putter head which includes a putting face having a positive loft angle diverging from vertical to a putter head base. The putting face is formed from a plurality of substantially parallel blades, each of the blades contiguous with each other, wherein the blades are arrayed at a downward angle. Each of the blades narrows in width towards the putting face and terminates in a narrow tip. Each of the blades is flexible at its tip in order to impart an upward spring force upon impact with a golf ball.

What is lacking in the art is a golf putter having an recessed area with an adjustable radial insert allowing adjustment for various playing conditions and assuring forward roll of a golf ball upon impact with the putter club head by the use of a negative loft.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A putter club head with an interchangeable radial shaped impact surface insert. The club head has a front surface and a rear surface, the front surface having an angular positioned recessed area with at least one aperture extending through the recessed area to the rear surface of the putter head. The recessed area receives a shaped impact surface insert constructed and arranged to reside in the recessed area; the insert having a frontal impact surface insert between an upper surface and a lower surface of the putter club head to cause an immediate roll of a golf ball. The radial shaped insert is releasably secured to the putter club head by use of a fastener extending through the aperture.

An objective of the invention is to teach the use of a putter club head having a shaped insert that can be easily exchanged for another shaped insert having different impact characteristics to allow a change in golf ball rolling characteristics.

Still another objective of the instant invention is to provide a club head that allows a golfer to adapt to the particular environmental conditions by substituting radial inserts.

Yet still another objective of the instant invention is to disclose a putter club head that, in conjunction with an insert, imparts forward roll tendencies onto a golf ball upon impact.

Still another objective of the instant invention is to disclose a golf putter head insert that can be selected based upon golf course conditions to provide more or less roll using the same golf club and golf swing.

Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a putter club head that can provide a distinctive sound associated with improved tactile feel when a golf ball is hit.

Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. The drawings constitute a part of this specification, include exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front plane view of a golf putter of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plane view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a top plane view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a back end view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view thereof;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional front end view thereof;

FIG. 7 is a front end view of the radial impact surface insert;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the radial impact surface insert;

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the radial impact surface insert; and

FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of the radial impact surface insert.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Although the invention will be described in terms of a specific embodiment, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art that various modifications, rearrangements and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims appended hereto.

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, set forth is a putter club head 10 having a front surface 14, also known as the face of the club head. The front surface 14 is further defined by a toe section 12 along a distal end of the club head 10, and a heel portion 16 along a proximal end of the club head 10. The club head 10 includes an upper surface 18 and a lower surface 20. The lower surface may also be referred to as the club head sole. A hosel 22 extends from the upper surface 18 of the club head 10 for attachment to a shaft, not shown, insertable into a socket 24.

The lower surface 20 of the club head 10 may be conventional, or may include an adjustable weight 26 along the toe 12 of the club head, as well as an adjustable weight 28 along the heel 16 of the club head. In the preferred embodiment, the toe section 12 of the lower surface 20 has a radius R1 of about 14.75.

The upper surface 18 can be of most any design, but in a preferred embodiment includes a cavity 30 with a reduction from the upper surface 18 into step down layers 32 and 34. The use of the cavity 30 is arguably a design that provides a superior balance over a block type club head. A hosel 22 is offset from the frontal surface 14. The shaft, not shown, is typically constructed from steel to provide a stronger, more consistent feel on the greens. The shaft may also be constructed from graphite.

Although not limited by the specification, in a preferred embodiment, the length L of the club head 10 is about 4.5 inches, the width W of the club head 10 is about 1.125 inches, and the height H is about 1 inch.

A radial impact surface insert 40 is centrally disposed between the toe portion 12 and the heel portion 16 of the club head 10. The insert 40 has an upper edge 42, a lower edge 44, a front upper edge 46, a front lower edge 48, a rear upper edge 50 and a rear lower edge 52. It is noted that the shape of the insert 40 forms a unidirectional placement into a recess 60. The radial impact surface insert 40 may be removed and replaced with an insert 40 having different impact characteristics, with the shape of the recess 60 and insert 40 assuring correction positioning. The insert 40 is secured to the club head 10 by the use of fasteners 54, 56, which are positioned through apertures 82 and 84. The fasteners 54 and 56 have keyed access for ease of removal using an Allen type wrench, and are accessible from the cavity 30 side of the club head 10. The fasteners 54 and 565 maintain the insert 40 along the front surface 14 of the club head 10.

Referring to FIG. 6, the club head 10, having a front face 14 with a recess 60, is constructed and arranged to receive the radial impact surface insert 40. The recess 60 has a support wall 62 having an angular shape illustrated by thickness T1, which is greater than thickness T2. The angle of the lower surface 20 in relation to the front surface 14 is provided by a radial of about 91°; with the angle α of the front surface 14 to be between 1 and 5 degrees with a preferred embodiment about 2 degrees.

Referring to FIGS. 7-10, the impact surface insert is preferably constructed of an 85% rebound material at 95 shore A hardness along a distal end 70 and proximal end 72. The center section 74 has a 45% rebound material at 85 shore A hardness of approximately ½ inch in width. The frontal face of the insert 40 has a plurality of grooves 76 with about a 0.031 inch spacing between the grooves 76. In the preferred embodiment, there are ten grooves 76 that run parallel to the length of the club head 10. Of the ten grooves, there is one centerline groove 61 with five grooves 63 located above the centerline groove 61 and four grooves 65 located beneath the centerline groove 61. A spacing ridge 78 is placed around the edge of the insert 40, forming a ridge having about a 0.060 inch width. The depth of the grooves 76 is approximately 0.015 inches, plus or minus 0.002 inches. The height H2 of the insert 40 is approximately 0.718 inches. As shown in FIG. 6, the thickness T1 of the insert wall back 62 is greater along the top than along the bottom, as defined by thickness T2.

The thickness T3 of the insert 40 along the upper edge is about 0.150 inches, and the thickness T4 of the insert 40 along the lower edge is about 0.124. The thickness between T3 and T4 provides a reverse loft, which causes an immediate golf ball roll upon impact. The insert 40 has a center of radius about 0.875 inches from a side of the club head 10, with a radius R1 of about 10.000.

FIG. 10 illustrates the back surface 80 of the insert 40 with sockets 82 and 84 for receipt of threaded fasteners 54 and 56. The sockets 82 and 84 are threaded so as to receive threaded fasteners and allow for ease of insert and substitution. In one embodiment, the impact surface insert 40 is constructed from a polymeric material, preferably polybutylene having a shore hardness, for soft impact, and is best used with hard golf balls and greens rated between 11 and 13. An insert 40 having a mid-range softness, such as polybutylene having a 45% rebound material at 84 shore A hardness in the middle 0.5 inch area of the insert 40, and 85% rebound material at 95 shore A hardness on each end portion of the insert 40. The mid-range insert would be used for greens rated around 10. A tour insert would have a harder feel and, thus, for use on greens rated 8 to 9. The rear surface 80 may include a foil that can provide a tactile feel and distinguishable sound. In an alternative embodiment, the impact insert 40 may be made of metal, such as 6061 aluminum, which would have the same usage as a tour insert and preferably for use with greens rated 8 to 9. It should be noted that a critical factor to this invention is the radial shape of the insert 40, best illustrated by FIG. 8, showing the thickness T3 to be greater than the thickness T4.

All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary, and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.

The term “coupled” is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The term “about” means, in general, the stated value plus or minus 5%. The use of the term “or” in the claims is used to mean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternative are mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports a definition that refers to only alternatives and “and/or.”

The terms “comprise” (and any form of comprise, such as “comprises” and “comprising”), “have” (and any form of have, such as “has” and “having”), “include” (and any form of include, such as “includes” and “including”) and “contain” (and any form of contain, such as “contains” and “containing”) are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a method or device that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” or “contains” one or more steps or elements, possesses those one or more steps or elements, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more elements. Likewise, a step of a method or an element of a device that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” or “contains” one or more features, possesses those one or more features, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more features. Furthermore, a device or structure that is configured in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A golf putter club head comprising: a club head member having an upper surface, a lower surface, a front surface, and a rear surface; a recessed area formed in said front surface, said recessed area having a negative loft and at least one aperture extending from said recessed area to said rear surface; a radial impact surface insert constructed and arranged to reside in said recessed area, said radial impact surface insert maintaining said negative loft between said upper surface and said lower surface; and a fastener positioned on said rear surface and extending through said aperture securing said radial impact surface insert to said recessed area; wherein negative loft of said recessed area is constructed and arranged to provide forward golf ball upon impact.
 2. The golf putter club head according to claim 1 wherein said recessed area includes a support wall having an angle between 1 and 5 degrees to provide said negative loft.
 3. The golf putter club head according to claim 1 wherein said negative loft is about 2 degrees.
 4. The golf putter club head according to claim 1 wherein said lower surface is presented at an angle of about 91° to said front surface.
 5. The golf putter club head according to claim 1 wherein said radial impact surface insert includes a foil positioned between said radial impact surface insert and said recessed area providing a tactile sound when a golf ball is impacted.
 6. The golf putter club head according to claim 1 wherein said radial impact surface insert is constructed of a polymeric material.
 7. The golf putter club head according to claim 6 wherein polymeric material is polybutylene.
 8. The golf putter club head according to claim 6 wherein said polymeric material has a 45% rebound at 84 shore A hardness.
 9. The golf putter club head according to claim 6 wherein said polymeric material has a 85% rebound at 95 shore A hardness.
 10. The golf putter club head according to claim 1 wherein said radial impact surface insert has an upper thickness greater than a lower thickness.
 11. The golf putter club head according to claim 10 wherein said radial impact surface insert upper thickness is about 0.150 inches and said lower thickness is about 0.124, with a center of radius of about 0.875 inches from a side of the club head.
 12. The golf putter club head according to claim 1 wherein said radial impact surface insert includes a plurality of grooves spaced apart about 0.031 inches having a depth of about 0.015 inches deep.
 13. The golf putter club head according to claim 1 wherein said radial impact surface insert includes ten parallel disposed grooves along a length of the insert.
 14. The golf putter club head according to claim 1 wherein said radial impact surface insert is shaped to allow unidirectional placement within said recessed area. 